Register online today!

Keynote and Deep Dive Workshop:
How can you ensure your education programs foster true learning in the minds and in the workplaces of your attendees? Due to advances in neuroscience, brain research now reveals evidence-based strategies to guide effective learning experiences. While there’s still a lot we don’t know, implementing a handful of simple techniques when combined with quality meeting management can enhance the intentionality of your association’s professional development offerings. In small group exercises apply brain-based strategies to support your speakers and to enhance the quality and sophistication of your programming.

Michigan native Aaron Wolowiec is a talented and passionate learning strategist and meetings coach whose diverse achievements guide and propel association goals and initiatives, especially as they relate to education and learning. Aaron has more than a decade of experience in the meetings industry, and has taught for three years at a Michigan college.

Aaron is a certified association executive, a certified meeting professional and a certified tourism ambassador, and he earned a master’s degree in administration (with a concentration in leadership) from Central Michigan University. An active member of ASAE, Aaron is both a past chairman of the Young Association Executives Committee and a 2009-2011 Diversity Executive Leadership Program scholar.

Additionally, Aaron contributes to a variety of industry publications and mentors a number of emerging professionals. In 2012, Aaron was featured by Michigan Meetings + Events magazine as a "very important professional you need to know."

Schedule
10:30 -11:30 a.m. - New Member Orientation (open to all new and prospective members)
11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Networking Reception
12 - 1:30 p.m. - Luncheon & Keynote featuring Aaron Wolowiec
1:45 - 3:15 p.m. - Deep Dive Workshop - 1.5 hours credit

Cost
GSAE Member: $30 Early Bird; $45 Late
GSAE Guest: $45 Early Bird; $60 Late
Workshop - $49

Thank you to our sponsor:	Thank you to our host property:	Thank you to our AV Sponsor:
Richmond Region Tourism	Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta Hotel	PRG
Nancy Bass, Sales Manager	Jessica Podratsky, Sales Manager	Jeff Sabourin, National Account Executive

GSAE is a CAE Approved Provider.  This program meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential.  Every program that we offer which qualifies for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation, and we will maintain records of your participation in accord with CAE policies.  For more information about the CAE credential or Approved Provider program, please visit www.whatiscae.org.

As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this luncheon program may be applied for 1 credit and the workshop may be applied for 1.5 credits, for a total of 2.5 credits toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements if you attend both.

Note: This program is not endorsed, accredited, or affiliated with ASAE or the CAE program.  Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific timeframe towards the exam application or renewal.  There are no specific individual courses required as part of the applications – selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.

 

When’s the last time this happened to you? There’s a highly recommended, world-class speaker you’d like to feature at an upcoming program. She’s perfect for your event in every way, except for the associated price tag. After much negotiation, you’re able to secure the "friends and family" discount; however, it’s still more than you’ve budgeted.

If your meeting comprises a qualified audience of planners or other decision-makers, you might consider an in-kind sponsorship with a local hotel or conference center. Following are 11 ideas from Aaron Wolowiec's recent post on his Event Garde blog for partnering with local venues.

 

We are excited to announce that Pat Kiel has been promoted to be the Assistant Director of Sales for Callaway Gardens. Having served in a variety of positions during her 39 year tenure at Callaway Gardens, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new responsibilities. Association meeting planners will be pleased to learn that she will once again be the contact for association business.

 

GSAE member, Connie Haynes, Director, Georgia FIRST Robotics, is extending a special invitation to us all to visit the VIP Lounge during the upcoming Peachtree Regional Robotics Event at the Georgia World Congress Center. There will be tours of the event – talk to the teams in the pits (66 high school teams from GA, surrounding states and the Dominican Republic), watch the competition, tour sponsor row, the NASA machine shop, Da Vinci Robot, ride Segways, etc.  This is a wonderful opportunity to see FIRST Robotics first hand on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. RSVP to Connie Haynes at chaynes@gafirst.org. (From Wendy: As many of you know, I spend most of my volunteer time with the Grady High School G3 Robotics Booster Club raising funds to support O’s team – which, by the way, has won a berth at the World Championship in St. Louis later this spring. Peachtree Regional is a great event to attend and learn more about robotics and student STEM opportunities in our state.)

 

Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta, host of the April 15 GSAE Luncheon, celebrated a win at this year’s annual leadership conference where it received the "Guest Engagement Award" from Sonesta for its excellent TripAdvisor rankings and guest satisfaction scores during 2014. The hotel ranked first out of Sonesta’s full-service, U.S.-based properties and continues to consistently rank #1 on TripAdvisor for the area.
 
Jessica Podratsky, Sales Manager, is delighted to share the news with her fellow GSAE members.  The recognition from Sonesta, and Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta’s continued achievements throughout the year with the receipt of various group and leisure awards, is a testament to the hotel’s promise of personalized exceptional service. One of the Sonesta brand’s corporate pillars is "passionate, engaging service" and this translates into all aspects of the guest experience at Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta. To learn more, follow the hotel on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Congratulations to Mark Spadoni, General Manager, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa for a stellar year leading the hotel and for his selection as Starwood Hotels & Resorts' 2014 Chief Sales Officer! This is the highest honor for a property executive in Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in North America! The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa was the host hotel of the 2014 GSAE Annual Meeting.

 

The best and brightest were spotlighted last month at the Southeast Festivals and Events Association’s  Kaleidoscope Awards, in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 17.  The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 12th Annual Southeast Festival and Events Conference. Top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the events industry. Centennial Olympic Park won Silver in the Best Event Brochure category for the Fountain Pen, the Park’s annual visitor publication. Centennial Olympic Park is managed by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which also runs the Georgia World Congress Center, host of the 2015 GSAE Tradeshow & Luncheon on November 11.

 

Carol Hall, Association and Government Sales Manager, and Carlos Morales, Director of Sales and Marketing, is excited to announce that the main tower of the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center is nearing completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation into a style more desirable to Generation X and Generation Y travelers. There will be fewer furnishings in the rooms to give the feeling of more space to move around. The televisions will be bumped up to 55 inches. Most of the bathtubs will be replaced with showers. By 2018, three-quarters of travelers will be Generation X or Y, which prompted the parent company to remake its rooms to be attractive to those generations, said Darryl Leech, vice president and general manager. For more information and to see pictures, like them on Facebook.

 

Thursday, March 12, 2015
Webinar: Leveraging Your Association's Government Affairs Game
Sponsored by Washington Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives
2 - 3 p.m.
$45 for members ($75 for non-members) - Register here

Whether your association has a government affairs program or not, learn how you can become more effective in the political space. This program will teach you the basics of creating programs while staying legal. Also you'll learn some valuable tips to help your program excel.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015
GSAE's YourMembership.com Users Group SIG Meeting
9 - 11 a.m. - *Bring your own breakfast*
Georgia Nurses Association - 3032 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta
RSVP here

Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Webinar: Creating your Mobile Strategy
Sponsored by Tennessee Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives
2 - 3 p.m.
$45 for members ($75 for non-members) - Register here

Learn how mobile communications can enhance your association and improve your communications and revenues. This course will include Mobile Conference APP’s, Mobile Association Resource APP’s, mobile communications (mobile messaging ), Sponsorship opportunities and NON-Dues revenue programs and more!

Thursday, April 02, 2015
GSAE Board of Directors Meeting
9:30-11:30 am
Georgia Association of Water Professionals - 1655 Enterprise Way, Marietta

Thursday, April 9, 2015
Webinar: STICK IT! To Leadership
Sponsored by Midwest Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives  
2 - 3 p.m.
$45 for members ($75 for non-members) - Register here

STICK IT! to Leadership helps you identify simple yet powerful behaviors that you can easily put into action for leading yourself... and leading others. STICK IT! provides you tools to face life’s daily obstacles with new perspectives, so that you can become a more authentic, self-aware, and inspiring leader.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Webinar: Implementing a Strategic Relationship Plan
Sponsored by Ohio Society of Association Executives and Georgia Society of Association Executives
2 - 3 p.m.
$45 for members ($75 for non-members) - Register here

This webinar will discuss how to bring strategy to your association’s outreach. Will focus on the importance of developing a Strategic Relationship Plan at your association and take participants through a step-by-step process in how to do so. Includes discussion of relations with individual groups as well as participation in coalitions. Will also include information on prioritizing your relations so as to appropriately utilize the limited resources of your association. Participants will walk away from the webinar with information and an approach that will allow them to immediately implement a Strategic Relationship Plan at their organization.

 

Volunteer and Event management | March 16, 2015 | Athens, GA
Cultural Competency and Embracing Diversity | April 22, 2015 | UGA Gwinnett campus
Visit www.fanning.uga.edu for more information

 

• Register today!
• Prices: $295 association executive; $350 corporate supplier member; special pricing for additional staff is $195.
• $169 room rate, run of house at the Francis Marion Hotel. Book your room today!
• Overflow hotel rooms available
  
• Golf at Osprey Point Course, Wednesday morning, 8:00 am - $85 per golfer
  
• 3 pre-conference workshops on Wednesday, 2-4 pm
  
• Keynotes by Shelly Alcorn, CAE, Reggie Henry, CAE, and Sarah Levitt, Executive Coach.
  
• Breakout sessions feature CEO, specialist and senior staff education and a special technology track.
• View the schedule and session details here.
  
• 3K charity run/walk  Friday morning benefiting MUSC Children's Hospital, 7:00 am - $20 per participant
• Silent Auction & Sponsor Lounge.
• Ends by noon on Friday.

 

The National Press Photographers Association will relocate its headquarters to the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication beginning in early 2015. NPPA is the voice of visual journalists, representing photographers, videographers, multimedia journalists, editors, designers, visual managers and academics, with nearly 6,000 members nationwide and around the world.

"UGA’s Grady College and NPPA share a deep commitment to excellence in journalism," said Pamela Whitten, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. "Their partnership creates exciting new opportunities in instruction, scholarship and outreach that will benefit our students and faculty as well as the more than 6,000 constituents of NPPA."

Charles "Chip" Deale, CAE, the executive director of NPPA, echoed those thoughts. "NPPA’s relocation to the University of Georgia and its partnership with the Grady College effectively positions the association for a vibrant future and one that is of great relevance to visual journalists." Deale will be based at Grady College and will collaborate with the school’s faculty and staff on a daily basis. Read the full press release here.

 

The Georgia Society of Association Executives is proud to partner with Institute for Organization Management, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s professional development program for non-profit executives, and offer two $500 partial tuition scholarships to one of Institute’s 2015 sites. The two scholarships, available to our members, will be awarded to students attending Institute for the first time to assist with enrollment fees and cannot be combined with any other Institute scholarships.

For over 90 years, Institute has educated association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders across the country through its national program, highly rated curriculum and high caliber instructors. Thousands of executives have attended Institute sites across the country to strengthen their management skills, learn industry best practices, and gain a broad national perspective from peers.  Institute has helped them build stronger organizations, become stronger business advocates and better serve their members. In addition, you will earn points towards your CCE or CAE certification as Institute’s curriculum is directly tied to the bodies of knowledge of both the American Society of Association Executives and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Upon completion of the Institute program, graduates receive the IOM recognition which allows them to use the letters "IOM" in public mention and professional correspondence.  The IOM recognition signifies the completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management and commitment to the industry.

If you are interested in this scholarship opportunity, contact Wendy at (404) 577-7850 or wendy@gsae.org by April 20th.

Early registration deadline for Midwest and Southeast Institute is April 24th.
Early registration deadline for West and Northeast Institute is May 29th.

For more information about Institute’s curriculum, sites, and dates, visit the Institute Web site and Prospective Student Toolkit to help you gain insight into the program.

 

DELP scholars are provided the opportunity to join a community of leaders connecting with other leaders for inspiration and growth.

If you, or someone you know, is eligible, we encourage you to visit the application for the 2015–2017 DELP class.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join this growing community of leaders—applications must be submitted by March 16, 2015.  Learn more here.

 

Eventeract is coming back to Atlanta, May 12 - 13, 2015, and it's going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever with intense master classes, interactive hands-on sessions, dedicated exhibitor time and an improved floor plan and schedule that will create a NEW and unique environment for learning and networking.

This revolutionary event, which evolved from the Meetings Exploration Conference (MEC), is building on the huge success of 2014’s program by adding:

• Enhanced education sessions, followed by dedicated exhibit floor hours featuring one­‐on-­one appointments
• Streamlined exhibit pricing and enhanced appointment software
• Hands-­on, interactive workshops for continuing education, including master classes with industry leading experts

Learn more and register at www.eventeract.org. As a partnering organization, GSAE members qualify for the member registration rate.

 

For a limited time only, host a group of 10 room nights Sunday through Thursday between June 1- August 31, 2015 and enjoy complimentary inclusions like meeting space, wireless internet in guest rooms, meeting space and all lobby areas, upgrade to a Junior suite, VIP valet parking and a choice of double Wyndham Rewards points or 3% off the master folio. Contact GSAE member Rachel Renney for more details.

 

It's a slam dunk! With our Meeting Madness Group Package, starting at just $159* per person, per night, meeting attendees receive: breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning breaks and afternoon breaks.  This unbeatable deal is valid for meetings of 25 people or more March 2 to May 30, 2015. Be a playmaker and make your reservations today! Contact GSAE member Pat Kiel for more information. *Restrictions apply.